Fantasy Football – Week 7 Start Em' And Sit Em'

Welcome to the best time of the year Sports Fans. Here is where I will tell you who I think you should start or who I think you should sit for your fantasy team.

This year, I will give you your obvious must starts (guys you start every week no matter who they play), a few players from each position who you should start, a sleeper start em’, and a must sit em’.

Also, I will be giving projections for those players. If you have more questions, don’t forget to join me for my weekly Sunday Morning Start Em’/Sit Em’ Chat from 10:45am to 12:45pm. Go to www.Sportmeisters.com for more info. Enough talk, let’s get down to business!

QB Obvious Must Starts

Drew Brees – NO vs. MIA – Projection: 315 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT

Peyton Manning – IND vs. STL – Projection: 335 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT

Philip Rivers – SD vs. KC – Projection: 295 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT

Aaron Rodgers – GB vs. CLE – Projection: 350 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT

Tom Brady – NE vs. TB – Projection: 300 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT

Kurt Warner – ARI vs. NYG – Projection: 250 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

QB Start Em’

Matt Schaub – Houston Texans vs. SF – Schaub has now put up back-to-back games of 350-plus yards and has six touchdowns in those two games. This week he gets the 20th ranked pass defense of the San Francisco 49ers. Start Em’.

Projection: 300 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT

Jay Cutler – Chicago Bears vs. CIN – Cutler put up 300 yards last week and threw two touchdowns. He now has 10 touchdowns on the year and this week he faces the 28th ranked pass defense of the Cincinnati Bengals, who allowed almost 400 yards passing to Matt Schaub last week. Start Em’.

Projection: 325 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT

Eli Manning – New York Giants vs. ARI – Eli didn’t have his best game last week against the Saints and, even though he threw an interception and lost a fumble, he still threw for 178 yards and a touchdown. He has 11 touchdowns on the year and faces the 31st ranked pass defense of the Arizona Cardinals this week. Look for a bounce back performance. Sleeper Start Em’.

Projection: 275 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

QB Sit Em’

Jason Campbell – Washington Redskins vs. PHI – After a dismal performance in the first half against Kansas City, Campbell was benched for the second half in favor of Todd Collins. We don’t know if he will start this week and, even if he does, he faces the fifth ranked pass defense of the Philadelphia Eagles. Sit Em’.

Projection: 150 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT

Donovan McNabb – Philadelphia Eagles vs. WAS – Was that really Donovan McNabb and the Eagles getting run over by the Oakland Raiders last week? After a great week against Tampa Bay, he threw for just 269 yards and didn’t throw a touchdown against Oakland. This week, he faces the third ranked pass defense of the Washington Redskins. Hard to bench, but you have to do so until he gets back on track. Sit Em’.

Projection: 220 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT

Derek Anderson – Cleveland Browns vs. GB – If you are starting a guy who has just 11 completions and 145 yards in the past two games, then your fantasy team is in big trouble. Anderson has thrown six interceptions since taking over as the starter and faces the 10th ranked pass defense of the Green Bay Packers this week. Must Sit Em’. (If you even own him)

Thomas Jones and Leon Washington – New York Jets vs. OAK – Jones had a monster game last week against Buffalo, rushing for 210 yards and a touchdown. Washington has that breakaway speed and can break a long touchdown on any carry. They have been splitting the workload and will split carries again with a great matchup against the 28th ranked run defense of the Oakland Raiders. Start Em’ Both.

LaDainian Tomlinson – San Diego Chargers vs. KC – It looks like Tomlinson is finally healthy again. He had a good game against Denver last week, Rushing for 70 yards and catching three balls for 30 yards. He may be working his way back to being an every week must start again. This week, he gets the 27th ranked run defense of the Kansas City Chiefs and LDT has historically had great games against them. Start Em’.

Projection: 100 yards rushing, 1 TD, 3 receptions, 30 yards

Ryan Grant – Green Bay Packers vs. CLE – Grant hasn’t been the best fantasy running back this season, rushing for just 347 Yards and two touchdowns in five games. However, he faces the 30th ranked run D of the Cleveland Browns this week and if he is ever going to make an impact, it’s this week. Start Em’.

Projection: 100 yards rushing, 1 TD, 3 receptions, 40 yards

Joseph Addai – Indianapolis Colts vs. STL – Addai has very quietly put together a very strong start to the season. He has 210 yards rushing, 26 receptions, 153 yards receiving, and four total touchdowns in five games. He looks to be fully healthy and doesn’t appear to be affected by his carry split with Donald Brown. This week, he should have a huge game against the 26th ranked run defense of the St. Louis Rams. Start Em’.

Projection: 80 yards rushing, 1 TD, 6 receptions, 55 yards

Jonathan Stewart – Carolina Panthers vs. BUF – It looks like the Panthers have found their running game, and it wasn’t a moment too soon. Stewart shares carries with DeAngelo Williams, but still managed to put up 110 yards and a touchdown last week against Tampa Bay. This week, he faces the worst run defense in the NFL in the Buffalo Bills and should find himself over the century mark yet again. Start Em’.

Projection: 100 yards rushing, 1 TD

Laurence Maroney – New England Patriots vs. TB – Maroney has found himself in a great opportunity to regain the starting job. With injuries to Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris, Maroney was called upon last week against Tennessee and didn’t disappoint, rushing for 123 yards and a touchdown. With Taylor out and Morris doubtful, Maroney will likely get the start against the 31st ranked run defense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week. Sleeper Start Em’.

Projection: 100 yards rushing, 1 TD, 2 receptions, 10 yards

RB Sit Em’

Brandon Jacobs – New York Giants vs. ARI – What has happened to this beast of a man? Jacobs has looked like a shell of the man who plowed over defensive players these past few years and has just 388 yards rushing and one touchdown. Not to mention that he is losing carries to the much more effective Ahmad Bradshaw. This week, he faces the Arizona Cardinals and their number one ranked run defense. Sit Em’.

Projection: 35 yards rushing

Rashard Mendenhall – Pittsburgh Steelers vs. MIN – Mendenhall has officially been named the starter in Pittsburgh, but I hate his matchup this week against the Williams Wall and the ninth ranked run defense of the Minnesota Vikings that have allowed just two rushing touchdowns this year. Sit Em’.

Projection: 45 yards rushing, 2 receptions, 15 yards

Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells – Arizona Cardinals vs. NYG – The Cardinals running game hasn’t been extremely effective this season (ranking 31st in the NFL) and I don’t expect them to be very good against a pissed off Giants defense (ranked 18th vs. the run) this week. Sit Em’ both.

Michael Bush and Justin Fargas – Oakland Raiders vs. NYJ – Can we really trust any Oakland Raider to be a good fantasy starter? No. Especially when Bush and Fargas are splitting carries and are facing the 21st ranked run defense of the New York Jets, who are extremely upset over their last two losses. Must Sit Em’ both.

Steve Smith – New York Giants vs. ARI – After starting the season red-hot, Smith has cooled off the past two weeks. He has just seven receptions for 114 yards in the past two games. However, he is still Eli Manning’s number one target and has a supreme matchup against the 31st ranked pass defense of the Arizona Cardinals. Start Em’.

Projection: 7 receptions, 80 yards, 1 TD

Donald Driver – Green Bay Packers vs. CLE – Anyone think Driver is washed up? I certainly don’t after his seven catch, 107 yard performance last week against Detroit. He now has 25 receptions for 395 yards and two touchdowns on the year and faces the 23rd ranked pass defense of the Cleveland Browns this week. Start Em’.

Projection: 9 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD

Vincent Jackson – San Diego Chargers vs. KC – Even though Jackson only had four receptions for 46 yards last week, he did score a touchdown. He has 24 receptions for 419 yards and three touchdowns on the year and is facing the 25th ranked pass defense of the Kansas City Chiefs this week. Start Em’.

Projection: 6 receptions, 95 yards, 1 TD

Devin Hester – Chicago Bears vs. CIN – Hester has turned into a pretty good receiver this year. He has a team leading 20 receptions for 272 yards and two touchdowns this year and has been a consistent target of QB Jay Cutler. This week, he faces the 28th ranked pass defense of the Cincinnati Bengals and with his speed, he is always a threat to break a huge TD. Start Em’.

Projection: 7 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TD

Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon – Indianapolis Colts vs. STL – While Anthony Gonzalez has been out with a knee injury, these two guys have stepped in to catch 31 passes for 444 yards and five touchdowns. Granted, their QB is some guy named Peyton Manning, but that is still impressive none the less. This week, Gonzalez is expected to practice, but probably won’t play, leaving Collie and Garcon to face the 27th ranked pass defense of the St. Louis Rams. Sleeper Start Em’ both.

Steve Smith – Carolina Panthers vs. BUF – I can’t believe I am writing this, but I think you have to bench Steve Smith this week. He has completely disappeared in the Carolina offense and has just 10 receptions for 107 yards in the past three games. Not to mention he is facing the fourth ranked pass defense of the Buffalo Bills this week and they will probably be relying on their running game. As hard as it is to say, you have to Sit Em’. Projection: 3 receptions, 40 yards

Terrell Owens – Buffalo Bills vs. CAR – Another star WR that I am saying to sit? What’s going on here? Well, Owens has been almost non-existent in the Buffalo offense, catching just 15 balls for 215 yards and one touchdown on the season. Combine that with QB Trent Edwards likely missing the game with a concussion and you have your second star WR Sit Em’.

Projection: 3 receptions, 35 yards

Santana Moss – Washington Redskins vs. PHI – Washington’s offense is in complete disarray. We don’t know who will be starting at QB, they have no running game, and they have a new offensive coordinator. All those factors plus the fact that they are facing the fifth ranked pass defense of the Philadelphia Eagles means Sit Em’.

Projection: 3 receptions, 30 yards

Donnie Avery – St. Louis Rams vs. IND – Avery has been quite surprising so far this season. He has 19 receptions for 213 yards and two touchdowns despite the QB issues. This week, Marc Bulger is back behind center, but they are facing the ninth ranked pass defense of the Indianapolis Colts, who are getting Safety Bob Sanders back. Sit Em’.

Projection: 2 receptions, 40 yards

Braylon Edwards – New York Jets vs. OAK – Combine a rookie QB who has eight interceptions to just one touchdown in his last three games with facing the best cover Corner in the NFL in Nnamdi Asomugha and you have your WR Must Sit Em’ of the week. Projection: 3 receptions, 35 yards

Owen Daniels – Houston Texans vs. SF – Daniels has now caught 15 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns in the past two weeks and appears to be a favorite target of Matt Schaub. This week he faces the 20th ranked pass defense of the San Francisco 49ers. Start Em’.

Projection: 7 receptions, 80 yards

Greg Olsen – Chicago Bears vs. CIN – Olsen has now had a touchdown in each of the last three games and had five receptions for 57 yards last week against Atlanta. This week he gets the 28th ranked pass defense of the Cincinnati Bengals. Start Em’.

Projection: 6 receptions, 55 yards, 1 TD

Jeremy Shockey – New Orleans Saints vs. MIA – Shockey has proven that when he is healthy, he is productive. He has 22 receptions for 199 yards and three touchdowns in five games and looks to be completely involved in the offense and on the same page with Drew Brees. He faces the 18th ranked pass defense of the Miami Dolphins this week. Start Em’.

Projection: 5 receptions, 50 yards, 1 TD

Jermichael Finley – Green Bay Packers vs. CLE – Finley has been incorporated into the offense the past two weeks and has 11 receptions for 182 yards and a touchdown to show for it. This week, he faces the 23rd ranked pass defense of the Cleveland Browns. Sleeper Start Em’.

Projection: 5 receptions, 50 yards, 1 TD

TE Sit Em’

Kellen Winslow – Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. NE – The Patriots just shutout the Titans and this game is going to be played in London. I don’t expect Josh Johnson to be able to find Winslow in this game very often. Especially since the Patriots are ranked sixth vs. the pass. Sit Em’. Projection: 4 receptions, 40 yards

Dustin Keller – New York Jets vs. OAK – Keller has been non-existent in the Jets offense these past few weeks, catching just five balls for 47 yards in three games. With a struggling QB and a pumped up defense, I recommend you Sit Em’.

Projection: 2 receptions, 20 yards

Kevin Boss – New York Giants vs. ARI – Boss has almost been completely fazed out of the offense, catching just 11 balls for 161 yards in five games. He has yet to score a touchdown and, even with the great matchup vs. the 31st ranked pass defense of the Arizona Cardinals, I don’t see it happening this week either as Eli has too many other options. Must Sit Em’. Projection: 2 receptions, 20 yards

D/ST Start Em’

Green Bay Packers vs. CLE – The Packers defense is coming off of a shutout of the Lions last week and is facing Derek Anderson this week, who has thrown seven interceptions this season. Start Em’.

Carolina Panthers vs. BUF – With Trent Edwards likely out, the Bills will turn to Ryan Fitzpatrick, who proved that he isn’t a true NFL QB last year with Cincinnati. Look for Julius Peppers to terrorize him all game long. Start Em’.

New England Patriots vs. TB – 59-0 ring a bell? And that was against a veteran QB in Kerry Collins. What will they do to youngster Josh Johnson in London this week with LB Adalius Thomas back in the lineup? Start Em’.

New York Jets vs. OAK – You have to know that Rex Ryan is furious with the last two weeks losses and even without Kris Jenkins (Put on IR this week) the Jets defense will look to take their frustrations out on JaMarcus Russell and the Raiders. Start Em’.

D/ST Sit Em’

New York Giants vs. ARI – Remember last week against New Orleans? I don’t expect it to be as bad, but Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald is something that we will probably see a lot of this week in what should be a shootout. Sit Em’.

Arizona Cardinals vs. NYG – The Cardinals may be able to stop the run, but I don’t think they will be able to stop Eli Manning to Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, and Hakeem Nicks. This game will be a shootout. Sit Em’.

Miami Dolphins vs. NO – Anyone remember what the Saints did to a good Giants defense last week? What do we think they will do against a poor secondary this week? Must Sit Em’.

San Francisco 49ers vs. HOU – Matt Schaub and the Texans offense have been absolutely on fire recently and I don’t expect that to stop this week. Sit Em’.

There you have it Sports Fans. Any questions or concerns, please email me at Derek@Sportmeisters.com and don’t forget to join me for my weekly Sunday Morning Start Em’/Sit Em’ Chat from 10:45am to 12:45pm. Go to www.Sportmeisters.com for more info.